The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Natasha is extremely practical. She believes in science and cold, hard facts. She knows that is it unlikely that she will be able to keep her family from being deported back to Jamaica now that her father’s DUI has alerted the authorities to their illegal status, but she also knows that she’s willing to hope and dream a little if it means that she might find a way for her family to stay in the US. Even though she has only about 12 hours left, she’s on her way to a meeting about a possible “fix”…

Daniel has always wanted to be more of a dreamer and a poet, but he has instead done his best to live up to the standards of a “good son” as laid out by his Korean-American [legal] immigrant parents. They expect him to go to Yale, to study to become a doctor, and to marry a good Korean girl so that he will never have to struggle as they once did. Even though he is not sure he really wants to go to Yale, he’s on his way to an interview with a Yale alum…

When Natasha and Daniel randomly meet in New York City, neither of them is out looking for love. A serious of seemingly random events — is it coincidence or fate? — brings them together, though. Daniel falls for Natasha pretty quickly, but her practicality has her thinking he’s just crazy. Although she doesn’t want to admit it at first, there *IS* something about Daniel that really speaks to her. So, does that mean Natasha will fall for Daniel too? Or will he end up heartbroken? Can Natasha find a way to stay in the US? Or will her family really have to leave in less than a day? Will Daniel get into Yale? And if he does, will he even go? This audiobook had me so anxious that I found it nearly impossible to shut off even when I had real-life responsibilities to tend to! I especially loved the fact that it was narrated by Natasha, Daniel, and the Universe — interspersed with narrations by some of the people they encounter throughout the day. Not only is it a great story for the hopeless romantic in us all, but it’s an amazing look at how people’s interactions with one another might seem insignificant at the time even though they make a big difference in the long run.